Noelani Villa, a proud member of the Kaw Nation, is a Ph.D. candidate in the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering department at the University of New Mexico. Noelani's doctoral research focuses on salt marsh restoration in Skagit Bay. Her academic journey began with an associate degree in Natural Science from Haskell Indian Nations University and a bachelor's degree in Native Environmental Science from Northwest Indian College. This educational foundation empowers her to integrate indigenous perspectives seamlessly into her innovative "indigineering" framework. As an ORISE intern with the U.S. EPA, Noelani worked with the Puget Sound National Estuary Program. Her research centered on tribal participation in regional restoration efforts, highlighting how restoration initiatives intersect with tribal treaty rights. She recently completed a Fulbright research stay in the Netherlands, immersing herself in hydrodynamic modeling techniques. This experience enriched her ability to tackle complex challenges in coastal restoration while highlighting the importance of incorporating community values into restoration planning and design. Beyond her academic pursuits, Noelani is a typical PNW granola girl. When she is not working, you can find her outdoors enjoying her time as a visitor to Coast Salish territory.